My traveler’s blues had followed me all the way to the woods of Finland. It made me realize that something needed fixing if we were to fully enjoy traveling again. But what? Some soul-searching and a little help from the Minimalists showed us the way forward.

If we are happiest and most carefree when our possessions fit in a single suitcase or backpack… Why do we keep cramming our houses full of stuff?

If we wanted life at home to feel more like life abroad we had to rethink our way of life, completely.

There’s a pattern emerging… we call it traveler’s blues. Abroad, Sofie and I feel energized, liberated and more in tune with ourselves. We come back with enough confidence and energy to take on the world. Our traveler’s high usually lasts up to three weeks before it starts to fade. Perhaps you are familiar with this feeling? Regardless of your determination, you lose that amazing feeling and reality inevitably reins you in.

Our experience abroad is directly proportional to our traveler’s blues afterwards. We started wondering why there is such a big difference between the persons we are when exploring new countries and who we are back home? How should we deal with traveler’s blues? Not traveling is out of the question. Perhaps traveling more frequently could be an effective cure? Or doing more adventurous things?

Dear readers, you have every right to be angry with me. Yes, you heard that right. Compare my blog to the Minimalists, Humans of New York or themakeupblogger.com and you will notice that NoMoreMovies lacks a clear message. My attempt at describing a vision and mission ended up being about getting our priorities straight, listening to ourselves, being more aware of the world around us and helping others where we can. Pretty vague, right?

Well, if you lack direction, it is always helpful to stop for a while. Just to look back and see how you got here in the first place. That’s my sole intention for this piece. Looking back at why I started NoMoreMovies in the first place, asking the question: am I too old for this sh*t, or should I keep on going?

No matter how keen I am on making some changes to my life, it somehow feels like all the stuff I own is in the way. It’s blocking my flexibility, my personal growth… Sometimes even literally. If you don’t have any kids, a spare bedroom automatically gets designated as a temporary “junk / stuff” room. Garages, attics or basements tend to fill up quickly too. And we all know that the word “temporary” is a lie here.

Enter the Minimalists. They showed me the way forward and I’ve been looking forward to introducing them to you all ever since I started this blog. So here we are…